TOP 20: SPORTS MEDIA BUZZWORDS AND CATCH PHRASES - LM

TOP 20: SPORTS MEDIA BUZZWORDS AND CATCH PHRASES

Written By: LM

Friday, March 27, my friend and I disagreed about the Texans not selecting Ruben Randell from LSU.  During this debate or argument, dude was hitting me with all of the buzzwords and catch phrases you commonly hear via media.  I thought he was possessed by Jim Nance, I mean it was no longer like I was talking to my homeboy but Dan Patrick.

I have been teasing this for some time now so this post shouldn't come as a surprise.  I have been compiling a database of sports media buzzwords/catch phrases because you need to know how to talk the language when your friend spaz out and turn into Sports Media Buzzword Guy.

20. At the end of the day

This is pretty simple and commonly use as filler talk and not limited to sports media

19. Steroid Era

Certain names in MLB if mentioned will prompt the media to drop "the steroid era" on you.  I have tried to figure out what's "the steroid era".  At first I thought it was the home run chase between Sosa and Mcgwire but "the steroid era" is nothing more than a media catch phrase.

18. Defense Wins Championships

I thought this was exclusive to the NFL but I have heard it in the NBA however I have to give credit to MLB media because they are a little more specific by specifying Pitching.  This catch phrase is uttered so much, it has became a part of our DNA.  Every time I hear the media say this, it's usually followed by The Steelers, 2001 Baltimore Ravens or 1985 Chicago Bears but I never hear about the 2003 Buccaneers or the 2008 Giants.  What's about this catch phrase still being mentioned is if you were to look at some of the recent Super Bowls, I wouldn't exactly label them as defensive powerhouses.  I believe the phrase needs to be modified to reflect the current NFL but I do feel it still has validity in the NBA.

17. High Football/Basketball IQ

A total joke of a phrase.  I am completely down with calling a dummy dumb but I cannot get down with assuming a man who has played a game since his youth not having an High IQ of his job.  This catch phrase is tricky because it's usually mention to prop up a player but by deductive reasoning I am led to think the others do not.  Even some of the players who I believe are the crappiest of crap, I believe their sports/position IQ is greater than most media who talk about them.

Rich vs Wealthy

16. Millionaires vs Billionaires

It had a life of summer during the CBA but we all remember hearing"it's Millionaires vs Billionaires.  If you were to really break this phrase down, it's sort of inaccurate I mean unless they are talking about "owners vs owners" because Forbes magazine says "half of NFL owners are Billionaires" which would fit Millionaires vs Billionaires.  However, when the media talk about it, they are talking about players vs owners in which most players are not Millionaires.  A more accurate catch phrase is Wealthy versus Rich.

15. SEC is the Best Conference

True and you will hear it at least 6,784,123 times from August to January

14. FREAK

A prime example of one guy making a statement and everyone running with it.  Unlike most buzzwords, I can actually track this one down.  The media basically told us, Texas Longhorns shouldn't even show up to play USC in the Rose Bowl.  ESPN did a series on how great USC was and had them going up against all types of "Great teams".  Long story short, UT was down by two scores with less than 4 minutes in regulation and Vince Young went into "Video Mode" to win the game.  After the game, the media asked Matt Leinart about VY and he called him a FREAK, years later, everyone awesome performer is described as a FREAK.

13. Bounty Gate

NEWBIE.  It sounds Super Fly to say and quickly recognizable by your die-hard and casual sports fan.  

12. Sexy City

Every since Lebron and Bosh partnered up with D. Wade, the media has been on this new catch phrase, "Sexy City".  NBA players want to sign with sexy cities.  Are they talking sexy in terms of team appeal or the city itself?  I can see the word-play on sexy in regards to Miami with the beaches and stars but I do not understand the phrase.  Was Houston a sexy city when we had Hakeem, Drexler and Barkley?  Nevertheless, they say it because it fits and they win when fans repeats it,

11. Great Guy

This is simple, when you hear the media referenced another member of the media, 99% of the time, that person is a "GREAT GUY" or "SWELL GUY".  In terms of the players they cover, they are only GREAT GUYS if they give them some comments or quotes.

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NOW WE GET INTO THE HEAVY WEIGHTS

10.  TEAM NEVER QUITS

This may not be much of a National Phrase as it's heavily used in Houston.  I am willing to say, the Houston Media may have coined this phrase and has it copyrighted.  Who in the hell cares about not quitting when you lose a game.  I'll do you one better, I rather Win with a quitting team than lose with a team that battled.  Usually, this phrase will appear if the General Manager or Coach is a person the media digs. It's almost like the media just reaching for something nice to say.

YEP, Cam Newton out of college described as ATHLETIC

9.  ATHLETIC

Typically media members way of describing a Black Quarterback they are not totally sold on as a  passing QB but has the ability to make plays with his legs.  I have also heard it in other sports and other positions.  This is one of the first years ever heard Athletic dropped on a white QB (Tim Tebow).  Maybe I am the dumb one, but if you are playing a professional sport, aren't you Athletic by default?  I mean we just watched the NFL Draft, are you telling me the majority of the players drafted were Slugs and a few were athletic.  Maybe the media needs to explain what they mean by Athletic.  On everything I love, when JeMarcus Russel was coming out, heard him described as "Athletic". Just saying.

8. SCRAPPY

Media members way of describing a team they are not truly following and just need something to say.  As a Professional Radio Listener, it's my duty to differentiate Scrappy from They Never Quit.  

They Never Quit is kissing management's ass

Scrappy is kissing the player's ass

7. Hand In The Dirt

This is one I can totally get down with.  The first person I heard say it a couple years ago was ND Kalu but it seemed to be the term that reoccurred throughout the draft when referencing certain defensive players.  I really wonder if half of the media members saying it now even know what it means.  I wouldn't be surprised if I were to ask a member of the media, "What do you mean by Hands in the Dirt" and not receive this reply "Technically in Houston, you hand is in turf but your outdoor stadiums, your hands are in grass".

6. High Character Guy

Man I don't give a fat crack about a professional athletes character.  They are paid to entertain me, I am not asking any of these guys to watch my kids or house sit for a weekend.  If you can play, I don't give a damn about your character if we are not talking criminality.  Hell, most of may not be described as High Character but we do our jobs.  This is one of the media's favorites.

Look at those Kids in Vietnam

5. College Players as Kids

What a joke.  We are talking about young adults not kids.  Typically, the average college student is 18-22, I am not sure what world our media lives in but that's the same age for most military members.  I literally cringe anytime I hear them say this.  Tell me this, what do they call a BYU or Utah player who can possibly have a family.  I just do not understand the kid reference at all.

4. High Motor

Do not have a problem with it, but used way too much.

3A.  Class Organization

Who cares as long as you win, sincerely Saints and Patriots.

3B. Team Leader

I am sure, the Texans had "Team Leader" high on their draft board to replace Demeco Ryans.

2. DIVIDE THE LOCKER ROOM 

LOL, this is straight stupid and limited to probably 1 instance I can recall publicly. "Aww we don't need this person, he will divide the locker room".  I find it laughable because I picture a locker room with a group of guys sitting across from each other mad mugging based upon 1 person problem with management.  The kicker is "Divide Locker Room" Media Guy is, he uses it  for just about anyone who don't know the words of Kum Bah Ya.   As with everything people, I like to use a little common sense, in your profession have you ever had that malcontent at work, did it effect the way you did your job?  This is one of the most common represented phrases spoken by the media because I rarely ever see it publicly.

1. CANCER IN THE LOCKER ROOM

This should have been a dead give a way based on #2.  Hate to lean on ND Kalu (former Eagle), but if he wouldn't have confirmed Terrel Ownes, I wouldn't even have included him.  I am just going to be real, outside of TO, I can't think of any person to be considered a cancer as much as the media sling this word around.  Dennis Rodman, Vernon Maxwell, Delontae West, Randy Moss, DeSean Jackson, Jeff Kent, Barry Bonds and many more are all described in some capacity as cancers but I see them as distractions to a team.  When I think cancer to a locker room, I am thinking of a person with the ability to make a locker room revolt or take sides and it's not as common as the media uses the phrase.

WRAP IT UP

I challenge any hard core sports radio fan to listen to the radio and tell me you have not heard any one of these words or phrases in a 24 hour cycle.

On the strength, I would be more accepting to most of these words/phrases if the media took the time to explain exactly what they are saying when referencing them however you normally get Joe Blow media guy who says it because it fits.  It's one thing to hear the media do this because you want to believe they know what they are talking about but it becomes a joke when you hear fans you know don't know what they are talking about, repeat it.

It's similar to when the media discovered the word "Hate" (15 yrs later), it's frequently used out of context.  And please don't even let me start with Snoop Dogg giving them "Fa Shizzle my nizzle".

OUT

LM
hmw_lm@yahoo.com